Oscar-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig has officially signed on to direct “Barbie,” the highly-anticipated big-screen take on the notable Mattel doll’s story, starring Margot Robbie.
Gerwig has been ready the Warner Bros. project since 2019, when the actor and filmmaker signed on to co-compose the film’s content with Noah Baumbach. From that point forward, reports have whirled that Gerwig had been eyed to direct the project, yet the deal wasn’t officially done.
Be that as it may, during her cover interview for British Vogue’s Aug. 2021 issue, Robbie nonchalantly noticed that Gerwig’s creative vision would reach out past the screenplay and into the director’s chair. Sources affirmed the advancement to Variety.
While talking about the film, the Oscar-nominated actor and producer first acknowledged that Barbie “comes with a lot of baggage! And a lot of nostalgic connections.”
“But with that come a lot of exciting ways to attack it,” she explained. “People generally hear ‘Barbie’ and think, ‘I know what that movie is going to be,’ and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and they’re like, ’Oh, well, maybe I don’t…’”
With respect to the production status of “Barbie,” Gerwig and Baumbach are right now shooting his latest feature “White Noise,” which Gerwig stars. After that project wraps, the pair will next direct their concentration toward the toy story, which is set to start off creation in mid 2022 at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios in London. A 2023 theatrical release is planned.
News that Gerwig will take on directing duties for the movie probably won’t come as a shock to a few, particularly given the entertainer and producer’s prosperity with her breakout includes 2017’s “Lady Bird” and 2019’s “Little Women,” which piled up a joined 11 Oscar designations and one win, including a gesture for Best Director (making Gerwig one of seven ladies at any point selected).
As Robbie noted in her remarks to Vogue, Gerwig’s admirers will be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to perceive what her directorial sensibilities bring to this new point of view on the plastic icon.
Very little has been revealed about the film’s plot, including details concerning precisely which of Barbie’s plastic playmates playmates will show up (What about Ken? Captain? Christie?). In any case, Robbie recently disclosed to Variety’s Marc Malkin that the movie serves as “a great opportunity to put some positivity out in the world and a chance to be aspirational for younger kids.”
As well as featuring in the film, Robbie likewise produces the film, under her LuckyChap Entertainment creation pennant, which is falling off its own Oscar-winning run for last year’s “Promising Young Woman.” Producers on “Barbie” additionally incorporate LuckyChap’s Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara; Mattel’s Robbie Brenner and Ynon Kreiz; and David Heyman.
Gerwig is repped by UTA and Management 360.